Since my efforts to search the board have come up short... Anyone have ideas or pictures for 50's era, 1955 or later shop trucks? I just picked up a 56 Chevy shortbox, and want to do it late 50's style...keep the 6, stock or mildly customized exterior and interior. I'm looking more for details, like pictures of bellyburner exhaust, or anything else era-appropriate... I will probably update the suspension, just because i like the safety and convenience of modern suspension stuff and it's pretty much hidden anyway, but that'll allow me to play with the stance,too... any input is appreciated --Casey
If you go to Birmingham Rocco and Cheaters still has their 55 GMC panel with full lettering.If you tell Sam you are on the board he has photos of other shop and tow trucks.C J Check your PMs
Yes! I'd like to know what the goin' setup is for the post 55 front ends. Wasn't someone making a dropped I-beam for them? Is the Mustang II-style pretty much the only alternative to a clip?
My '59 is getting a dropped axle. I'm debating on buying a dropped tubular one (CPP has them http://www.classicperform.com/ ) or having the stock one dropped. The price is the same either way....
that's what I'm talking about...I'm going to keep mine in the "we just bought a new shop truck, so we won't go too crazy, but it could stand to be dropped, and that exhaust goes, and..." style. Nothing really carried away. Keep them coming... Oh, and I won't be putting a logo on the doors...it seems like a cliche' already, unless you have a real shop. --Casey
I love the old shop trucks...I was thinking of going that route at one time with my truck when I had a business...
Draglinks, Are you running bias ply or radial? and you're still on the I-beam right? I remember when you got the truck, but I can't remember the details. --Casey
Here is my "shop truck". I kind of had the same idea. Nothing too radical, just lowered, smoothed a little, and big n littles. Neal
I hear ya, I'm keen to go down the same road but with a Delivery of some sort be great for hauling my wares to the swaps and I could sleep in it too...... Sam from Rocco's truck is too cool.
That's what I've been shooting for with my truck the mag signs gotta go though, they were just temp till I got some paint and body work done. Now I need to find someone to do it for real in the KC area. The number Clearwater 8 750 was the number at my grandfathers place in the late 50's. And here's the garage, not mine but I use it alot. MONGO
Mongo Fraz is my boy. Are you in Brookfield, Mo? I was born there in 53 We lived over on Freeman street. Little bitty house down from the Stuffelbeans. Ronny was a bud when I was little. Later out on 36 by the lumberyard next to Hunzikers. My Aunt and Uncle still live there Mundells... Lotsa memories there. Our number was clearwater 8 757. I did remember that. That and the operators name was Janice. Used to talk to her when the TV messed up. Wild but she was a help.. Take care Bill T VonDad
The thread lives...I like that blue flamed ford...I'm playing with the idea of going with a dropped straight axle, since the truck is so close to being a driver as it sits. Anybody driven their trucks with both straight axle and IFS and have any advice? PS the parts are all there...it was in the middle of restoration (mechanicals are done) when the seller decided to part with it. I bought it long distance, so my mother-in-law took the pic...I'm dying to reassemble it and drive...
As far as gas station trucks from the 50's and 60's go many of them had a hardwood front bunper on them for pushstarting cars or just pushing them in and out of the station bays. That and the name of the station on the doors pretty much covered the basic alterations. When it comes to suspension I'd recomment checking out Elpolacko's Dodge Dakota front suspension. His business is Industrial Chassis and their web site explains the pros and cons of various setups. I'm seriously considering one of his front suspensions for my '48 F1 when I get to the rebuilding stage. Frank
My old 33 ford pickup. I was planning on painting a shop name on the doors but never got around tuit. Had a killer name and logo ready too...
Here's my goony assed truck. Its not perfectly traditional in the "done like back then" sense. I tend to do things my way no matter what people say or think. Shop sign on the door? Cliche?....yep.....so what. Its also still in progress big time....like it needs to come down about 5 feet out of the air and so on..... But I do have it running and I will be driving it in a few days. There are some really nice trucks on this thread! Lots of inspiration.
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